Apparatuses and methods to improve air flow in on-the-door icemakers

ABSTRACT

On-the-door icemakers having improved air flow are disclosed. An example icemaker includes an ice mold configured to produce ice by removing heat from the ice mold using supplied cold air, and a shaped air flow redirection member disposed at least partially between the icemaker and the door to redirect at least a portion of the cold air away from the door toward the freezer compartment.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to ice makers, and, more particularly, to apparatuses and methods to improve air flow in on-the-door icemakers.

BACKGROUND

Some prior-art appliances such as side-by-side refrigerators, French-door refrigerators and freezers have on-the-door icemakers. On-the-door icemakers facilitate, among other things, the dispensing of ice and/or beverages through external dispensers.

SUMMARY

On-the-door icemakers having improved air flow are disclosed. An example icemaker includes an ice mold configured to produce ice by removing heat from the ice mold using supplied cold air, and a shaped air flow redirection member disposed at least partially between the icemaker and the door to redirect at least a portion of the cold air away from the door toward the freezer compartment.

An example method for redirecting air flow in an on-the-door icemaker of an appliance having a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the freezer compartment includes supplying cold air into the icemaker, and redirecting at least a portion of the cold air from the ice maker back toward the freezer compartment using a generally L-shaped air flow redirection device disposed at least partially between the icemaker and the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of an example refrigerator having an on-the-door icemaker in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example freezer compartment having an air duct to supply cold air to the example on-the-door icemaker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the example on-the-door icemaker of FIG. 1 showing an improved air flow.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and side views of an example ice mold for the example on-the-door icemaker of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the example on-the-door icemaker of FIGS. 1 and 2 with ice storage bin removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some prior-art appliances including to, but not limited to, side-by-side refrigerators, French-door refrigerators and freezers, cold air provided to an on-the-door icemaker may result in the buildup of humidity, frost and/or ice on an appliance door or stored ice, and/or the freezing of a water supply. To overcome at least these problems, on-the-door icemakers having improved air flow are disclosed. For example, the disclosed on-the-door icemakers redirect more air away from the door, ice storage bin, and water freezing zone than existing appliances.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of an example refrigerator 100 having a refrigerated compartment 101 and a freezer compartment 102. The refrigerated compartment 101 and the freezer compartment 102 each have an open face to provide access to the compartments 101 and 102. The refrigerator 100 includes a door 103 for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the open face of the freezer compartment 102. While not shown for clarity, the refrigerator 100 also includes a door to selectively open and close the open face of the refrigerated compartment 101. To allow items to be stored in the refrigerated compartment 101 and/or the freezer compartment 102, the example refrigerator 100 of FIG. 1 includes one or more shelves (one of which is designated at reference numeral 104). The shelves 104 may have fixed positions and/or be moveably positionable. While not shown for simplicity, the refrigerator 100 may, additionally or alternatively, include any number and/or type(s) of bins, holders, drawers and/or baskets for the storage of items.

To make and/or dispense ice, the example refrigerator 100 includes an on-the-door icemaker 110 on the door 103, which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The icemaker 110 may be fixedly or removeably mounted to the door 103. While not shown or discussed herein, the on-the-door icemaker 110 may dispense ice through the door 103, as is well understood. Additionally or alternatively, the icemaker 110 may include a door and/or access 112 to enable a person to remove ice from an ice storage area and/or bin 320 (see FIG. 3) when the door 103 is open. As will be discussed in detail below in connected with FIG. 3, the example icemaker 110 has an improved air flow that, among other things reduces an amount of cold air flowing into a water feeding zone, reduces an amount of cold air flowing into the ice storage zone 320, reduces an amount of humidity that may form on the door 103, reduces an amount of frost that may form on the door 103, and/or an amount of ice that may form on the door 103.

Although the example on-the-door icemaker 110 disclosed herein is described with reference to the example refrigerator 100 of FIG. 1, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the icemaker disclosed herein may be used in refrigerators and/or freezers having any configuration (e.g., side-by-side refrigerators, a French-door refrigerators, a top-freezer refrigerators, etc.).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cold air is supplied to the example on-the-door icemaker 110 via an air duct 115. The supplied cold air enters the icemaker 110 via an opening 120. While an example air duct 115 and opening 120 combination is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other configurations may, additionally or alternatively, be used to supply cold air to the icemaker 110.

Turning to FIG. 3, to make ice, the example on-the-door icemaker 110 includes an ice mold 305. When filled with water, the example ice mold 305 is configured to produce ice by removing heat from the ice mold 305 (i.e., the water) using cold air supplied, for example, via the air duct 115 and the opening 120. As shown, a flow of cold air 310 enters the icemaker 110 and, a first portion of the flow of cold air 310 passes around and beneath the ice mold 305. A second portion of the flow of cold air 310 may flow into a water supply zone 315 of the icemaker 110. The water supply zone 315 includes a supply line 317 that may be routed through, foamed in and/or pass through at least a portion of the door 103.

Traditionally, after passing around the ice mold 305, the second portion of the cold air flow 310 is reflected by the interior lining the door 103. However, doing so has numerous disadvantages including, but not limited to, the buildup of frost, ice and/or humidity on the door 103, the unnecessary reflection of cold air into the ice storage zone 320, and/or the reflection of additional cold air into the water supply zone 315 which may result in freezing of the water supply.

To prevent these and other problems, the example icemaker 110 includes a generally L-shaped air flow redirection member 325. The example air flow redirection member 325 has a first portion or member 330 that is at least partially between the icemaker 110 and the door 103. This first member 330 reflects at least some of the first portion of the flow of cold air 310 after it passes around and/or beneath the ice mold 305 back toward the freezer compartment 102.

To reflect cold air that has been reflected downward by the first member 330 and/or cold air that may be pass below and generally close to the first portion 330, the example air flow redirection member 325 has a second portion or member 335 that extends from the first portion or member 330 generally toward the freezer compartment 102. As shown, at least some of the cold air flowing downward along the first member 330 is redirected away from the door 103 and toward the freezer compartment 102 by the second member 335.

It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that not all of the cold air flowing into the icemaker 110 and/or impinging on the air flow redirection member 325 will be reflected toward the freezer compartment 102. However, more cold air will be redirected away from the door 103, the water supply zone 315, and the ice storage area 320 toward the freezer compartment 102 than traditional icemakers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air flow redirection member 325 is a generally L-shaped member. However, the first and second portions 330 and 335 need not form a right angle, nor does either member 330, 335 need be straight. Thus, the air flow redirection member 325 has a generally L shape, but does not need to have a strict L shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the second member 335 may be curved and/or have a scoop like shape. When the second member 335 is curved and/or has a scoop shape, cold air may be more efficiently redirected away from the door 130 toward the freezer compartment 102. In such examples, the second member 335 curves from the first member 330 toward the freezer compartment 103 and may extend to a position at least partial beneath, or beyond the ice mold 305. Likewise the first portion 330 could be curved or have a scoop shape. Other shapes for the the air flow redirection member 325 include, but are not limited to, a C-shaped member, a U-shaped member, and angle-bracket-shaped member, a semi-circle shaped member, etc.

In some examples, the air flow redirection member 325 is a separate member that is mounted to the icemaker 110 such that when the icemaker 110 is in place in the door 103 it is positioned at least partially between the icemaker 110 and an inner liner of the door 103. In other examples, the air flow redirection member 325 is mounted or affixed to the inner liner of the door 103. In these latter examples, the first portion 330 may be formed as part of the inner liner; with the second portion 335 attached or affixed to the liner or as a part of the liner, thereby forming the L-shaped air flow redirection member 325. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other configurations may be used.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An on-the-door icemaker for use on a door of a freezer compartment, the icemaker comprising: an ice mold configured to produce ice by removing heat from the ice mold using supplied cold air; and a shaped air flow redirection member disposed at least partially between the icemaker and the door to redirect at least a portion of the cold air away from the door toward the freezer compartment.
 2. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein the shaped air flow redirection member comprises at least one of an L-shaped member, a C-shaped member, a U-shaped member, and angle-bracket-shaped member, or a semi-circle shaped member.
 3. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein the shaped air flow redirection member comprises: a first member positioned at least partially between the icemaker and the door; and a second curved member curving from beneath the first member toward the freezer compartment.
 4. An icemaker as defined in 3, wherein a liner of the door comprises the first member, and an upper portion of second curved member attaches the liner.
 5. An icemaker as defined in 3, wherein the first member is curved.
 6. An icemaker as defined in 3, wherein the second member extends to a position at least partially beneath the ice mold.
 7. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein the Shaped air flow redirection member comprises: a first member positioned at least partially between the icemaker and the door; and a second member extending from the first member toward the freezer compartment.
 8. An icemaker as defined in claim 7, wherein the first and second members form substantially a right angle.
 9. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein a first flow of the cold air in a first direction is redirected by the Shaped air flow redirection member into a second flow having a second direction generally opposite the first direction, wherein the second flow comprises at least a portion of the first flow.
 10. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein a shape of the Shaped air flow redirection member is selected to reduce an amount of cold air flowing into a water feeding zone.
 11. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein a shape of the Shaped air flow redirection member is selected to reduce an amount of cold air flowing into an ice storage zone.
 12. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein a shape of the Shaped air flow redirection member is selected to reduce an amount of humidity on the door.
 13. An icemaker as defined in claim 1, wherein a shape of the Shaped air flow redirection member is selected to reduce an amount of at least one of frost and/or ice on the door.
 14. A method for redirecting air flow in an on-the-door icemaker of an appliance having a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the freezer compartment, the method comprising: supplying cold air into the icemaker; and redirecting at least a portion of the cold air from the ice maker back toward the freezer compartment using a generally L-shaped air flow redirection device disposed at least partially between the icemaker and the door.
 15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein redirecting the at least a portion of the cold air from the ice maker back toward the freezer compartment comprises redirecting the at least a portion of the cold air toward the freezer compartment along a curved path defined by a curved portion of the L-shaped air flow redirection device.
 16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein redirecting at least a portion of the cold air from the ice maker back toward the freezer compartment comprises redirecting a first flow of the at least portion different than opposite the first direction.
 17. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising reducing a flow of cold air into a water feeding zone by redirecting the at least portion of the cold air.
 18. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising reduces a flow of cold air into an ice storage zone by redirecting the at least portion of the cold air.
 19. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising reducing humidity on the door by the redirecting the at least portion of the cold air.
 20. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising reducing at least one of frost or ice on the door by the redirecting the at least portion of the cold air reduces. 